But I doubt that's true. Hoppe outperformed Cowell during Hoppe's short stint at (currently last-place) San Jose. If Hoppe were entirely dead weight to Middlesbrough, why couldn't terms have been negotiated? I assume Middlesbrough still hoped for better (terms, not play).
He'd be crazy to give that up entirely and try to make his way in the world. Maybe take a haircut, but a decapitation? No thanks!
Agreed. I can’t imagine how badly I would have dicked up having that kind of money at that age. It would definitely have been a birds, blow and the rest wasted kinda thing.
Reminds me of the guy who won the lottery grand prize of £1 million back in the mid-60s, when £1 million was really serious money. He was declared bankrupt 5 years later. When asked him how he' d managed to do that, he answered "I spent some of it on fast women and slow horses." And the rest of it? "I spent that foolishly"
It’s long been attributed to George Best. Whether that is urban legend or an actual quote I haven’t the slightest idea.
How dare you impugn New Saints! They signed (but did not play) Matt Olosunde. I actually went to the ground for the first time a couple of weeks ago while I was in town, and kicked around on the pitch before practice - even tested out their fan "kick a ball into this pot" challenge (it's too easy and they should probably change it.) The irony that the top team in the Welsh League is technically in England is a whole other situation. But it's a nice part of the country.
He made his US debut in the same game as Antonee Robinson (among a few others). How quickly two paths can diverge.
Crazy to think back to just a few years ago a brief goal scoring run had him going from complete unknown. So much potential in our eyes.
Recently scored for the U21s: Matthew Hoppe has been reduced to Middlesbrough's U-21 squad this summer, scoring in a recent 1-1 friendly draw with Ipswich Town. Hoppe, 23, has two years left on his contract, but only has made six apps for Boro. Also loaned to Hibernian/San Jose Earthquakes. #USMNT pic.twitter.com/YmC51OVqNu— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) July 22, 2024
A loan to a League Two side beckons, with Boro covering +100% of his salary. And the taxi fare to get him there. Anything to get him out of the dressing room
True enough, but there's a persistent strain here. He had a hot streak at Schalke, which burdened him with some unrealistic expectations, but 4 seasons on he's barely got off the bench at the bottom of La Liga, the middle of the Championship, the middle of the SPL (how bad do you have to be for that), the bottom of MLS and back in the Championship again. He must have the physical tools or clubs wouldn't take a flyer on him, but once he arrives none of them can seem to get rid of him fast enough. Being relegated to the U-21 side is an industrial-strength GTFO message. It's hard to see how he can last the next 6 weeks, never mind until Xmas
While he didn’t set the league ablaze, he did seem to find his level in MLS. But he also seems hellbent on not making a permanent move there, so he’ll keeping sinking leagues until the only Americans calling are USL.
Thing was he was only okayish for the Quakes. Not bad but did have a solid end to the season. I think part of it is that as it turns out, Hoppe just is not a striker
He only showed up in August IIRC… scored a few goals between MLS and friendlies. Also, he hasn’t been playing the last few years. Hard to find form and rhythm really quickly under those circumstances.
More like a BL2 - 3 Liga yo-yo side. The only place he's got anything approximating to decent PT was at Hibs, and that's where their salary budget would put them in Germany I'd like to be proved wrong, but he just hasn't shown anything otherwise in the last 4 years